Toronto Maple Leafs & Columbus Blue Jackets Complete Trade Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets have completed a one-for-one player trade.

The Blue Jackets have acquired defenceman Mikko Lehtonen from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Veini Vehvilainen.

At age 27, Lehtonen has played 9 career NHL games, each having been played this season. He has played most of his career in the KHL and various European leagues. Vehvilainen was selected 173rd overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He has played just one career game that was played this season. He finished the game with a 5.63 GAA and a save percentage of 0.750%.

Lehtonen was signed by the Maple Leafs on a one year deal in May of 2020. He was undrafted, but the Leafs took a chance on him as he was the best defenceman in Europe. This trade may not seem like much of a play, but Dubas has flipped an undrafted asset for a relatively young goaltender. Although Vehvilainen has played just one NHL game, Dubas will look like a genius if he has any ounce of success.

TRADE: #CBJ have acquired defenseman Mikko Lehtonen from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Veini Vehvilainen.

Lehtonen, 27, made his #NHL debut this season, collecting 0-3-3 in 9 games with the Leafs.https://t.co/JStAJ1E5qQ
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) March 12, 2021